PMM Insight: A Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing Podcast

On this episode of PMM Insight, Editor Ron Shinn and Managing Editor Lynne Sherwin discuss new extrusion machinery introduced at the K Show. Labor shortage solutions take center stage: New extrusion systems focus on automation, guided workflows and smarter controls to support less-experienced operators. Reifenhäuser Everex flat film line: Automated PAM (Precise, Autonomous Mechatronic) die and adapter adjustment for time savings, improved safety and reduced operator intervention KraussMaffei Pioneer ProcessControl (ppC): Dashboard- and widget-based data visualization; role-based interfaces for all skill levels; smart guided workflows to simplify complex production steps Milacron MosaicX control system: Faster processing and expanded data reporting; controls multiple extruders and auxiliary systems; enhanced self-diagnostics and fault detection Coperion Lifecycle Manager (C-Beyond platform): Predictive maintenance based on real operating hours; automated service notifications; improved OEE through bundled, scheduled maintenance Breakthrough degassing technology from Battenfeld-Cincinnati: The BC-120-40 DVT, the first single-screw extruder with dual, independent degassing zones for Superior moisture and volatile removal, minimized bubble formation, reduced pre-drying Recycling-ready extrusion: Coperion STS 35 Mc 11 optimized for recycled resin, with nitride-hardened steel process section, brass heater shells with water flash cooling Industrial AI enters extrusion operations: Reifenhäuser NEXT system includes AI chatbot for real-time troubleshooting (NEXT.AI), digital and on-site training platform (NEXT.Learning), production dashboards and data aggregation (NEXT.Data) Listen now to hear PMM’s Ron Shinn break down the most impactful extrusion innovations from K 2025 — and what they mean for your plant floor.

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly roundup of news and features with PMM Editor Ron Shinn: Three top executives are departing Husky Technologies in the wake of its acquisition.  KraussMaffei has developed a process to dose glass fibers directly into a molding machine.  Absolute Haitian co-owner Glenn Frohring talks about his love for rock ‘n’ roll, birds, his career and what comes next. 

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly roundup of news and features with PMM Editor Ron Shinn:  Linda and Yousry Sayed, new owners of Wilmington Machinery, are planning to expand the business.  North American robot orders increased in 2025, but orders in the plastics and rubber sector declined.  German Machinery manufacturer Reifenhäuser rolled out new lines for flat film and blown film at K 2025, as well as an upgraded automation system and AI-powered chatbot. 

On this episode of PMM Insight, a commentary with Editor Ron Shinn: Business seems to be in a downward spiral for plastics recyclers. There is no national support or incentives for collection or recycling infrastructure, and state-of-the-art plants are closing. Why should processors and machinery manufacturers care? Because recyclers are a foundational building block for plastics circularity, which is essential for the industry's future.

On this episode of PMM’s Machinery Minutes, our weekly look at significant stories from the past week, with Editor Ron Shinn:  Total cost of wages and benefits are likely to go up this year for plastics processors, according to a report from The Plastics Industry Association.  WM Thermoforming unveiled two new machines designed for energy efficiency, quick set-up and easy maintenance, at the recent K Show.  Gabler Thermoform demonstrated the M100 Evo, capable of up to 43 cycles per minute and production of 250,000 items per hour. 

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly news podcast with PMM editor Ron Shinn rounding up some of the top stories of the past week:  Thermoforming experts Conor Carlin and Mark Strachan have developed an AI-powered tool to help thermoforming companies struggling to find and keep skilled operators.  Pat Farrey, former head of SPE and now executive VP of PLASTICS, talks about the merger of the two organizations, leadership and improving the image of the plastics industry.  A new high-tech Kiefel thermoformer boosts production by 50 percent and uses 10 percent less energy. 

This episode is a discussion about the annual PMM Machinery Buying Survey, with editor Ron Shinn, managing editor Lynne Sherwin and senior staff reporter Karen Hanna. Here are some key points:  Survey respondents were surprisingly positive, with 73 percent saying they plan to buy primary processing equipment in 2026. Some machinery OEMs and analysts aren't quite so optimistic. Tariffs are having a mixed effect and are still causing confusion.  Manufacturing wages across the board are rising, and processors are going to have to pay more for workers, even as the lack of skilled labor is driving more automation. The trend to keep machinery running longer is continuing, and machinery OEMs are responding by beefing up their service departments. 

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly news podcast with PMM editor Ron Shinn rounding up some of the top stories of the past week: Dr. Boy went big at K 2025 by introducing an entirely new line of all-electric injection molding machines.  An Ohio injection molder invested $50,000 in robots and saw a $75,000 annual savings.  Paul Caprio was named president of LS Mtron for the U.S. and Canada. It is his third stint as president of a North American plastics machinery company.

In this PMM Insight commentary, Editor Ron Shinn gives you his list of what the plastics industry needs for 2026, including:  Significant improvement in the U.S. manufacturing sector.  Training and workforce development on a national level.  Stabilization of U.S. tariff policy.  An overhaul of the plastics recycling system.  Take a listen and tell us what's on your wish list.

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly news podcast with PMM editor Ron Shinn rounding up some of the top stories of the past week:  We look at new injection molding machinery introduced by Engel, Arburg and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag at K 2025.  Netstal Americas, Arburg and Hasco all announced new top executives.  The Plastics Industry Association has launched Positives of Plastic, a website designed to provide fact-based information about plastics for industry professionals and the general public. 

PMM Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna interviews Editor Ron Shinn about the new injection molding machines he saw at the K Show. Among the points they discuss:  The latest trends in injection molding machines.  Most notable new features on the machines.  The importance of artificial intelligence.  The next big frontier for injection molding machines. 

On this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast with PMM editor Ron Shinn, discussing three top stories of the past week in the plastics industry:  SPE officially became a division of PLASTICS on Jan. 1. The challenge now is to merge SPE’s extensive offerings of technical events, products and membership into PLASTICS.  The Wittmann Group debuted two new injection molding machines at K 2025, a redesigned MacroPower servo hydraulic and an all-electric EcoPrimus press.  Industry veteran John Wiley has been promoted to VP of operations at LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine. 

Lights-out production has been a goal for the plastics industry for three decades, but until now, machines have still required operators to set them up, monitor and adjust them and perform quality checks.   On this PMM Insight podcast commentary, Editor Ron Shinn sees signs that true lights-out capabilities are on the horizon:  Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence (AI), smart factory technology and a skilled labor shortage has delivered the plastics processing industry to the beginning of a new era in automation.  Engel displayed the world’s first autonomous, self-regulating molding cell at K 2025.  Haitian, Reifenhäuser, Shibaura, Stork and Wittmann — among others — also unveiled AI-powered systems for plastics processing. 

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, we discuss three stories about new injection molding machines introduced at K 2025, which we are covering in depth on our website.  KraussMaffei’s redesigned PX injection molding machine series is more compact and energy efficient. It features a simplified, web-based MC7 control system for improved usability and cyber resilience.  Chinese manufacturer Tederic Machinery unveiled its new Innova 250 high-speed hybrid molding machine designed for the packaging industry.  Stork Plastics Machinery showed a high-performance molding machine named the 6600-3550, designed for thin-wall packaging products. 

In this episode of Machinery Minutes, PMM Editor Ron Shinn gives his three favorite stories of 2025 and compares his list to the top three stories readers viewed on plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com. Here are the editor’s favorites:  Business management experts said that leaders need to change their thinking to successfully navigate tariff whiplash and stock market volatility, but at the same time stick to their values.  Processors have massive amounts of data to track, but much of it goes unused. How do you become one of the companies that tracks and uses data?  A study suggests that every company has a 50-50 chance of being hacked, and manufacturing companies are among the most frequently targeted. Find out how to protect your company and recover quickly if you are the victim of a cyberattack. 

On this episode of the PMM Insight podcast, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn:  2025 will be remembered as the year worldwide treaty talks to end plastic pollution collapsed.  Recyclers are probably the biggest losers.  To solve the problem, recyclers just need solid commitments from buyers to use recycled resin. 

On this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast, in which PMM Editor Ron Shinn discusses three top stories of the past week:  LS Mtron is continuing its aggressive expansion plans by enlarging its Chicago-area technical center.  Wittmann USA President Sonny Morneault discusses leadership, changes he has seen in the plastics industry and what’s ahead.  Your business insurance can help maintain uptime, control costs and keep you competitive. It is a good time to review your coverage. 

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly podcast roundup of three important stories on the plastics industry:  The number of people working in plastics and rubber manufacturing fell by 3.500 from August to September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Cobots from Universal Robots will be manufactured in the Detroit area starting next year.  Haitian, the world’s biggest manufacturer of injection molding machines, unveiled two new presses for packaging applications at K 2025. 

On this podcast episode, Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Reporter Karen Hanna talk about sustainability issues with flexible packaging, including:  An explanation of the green premium and why it matters.  Is flexible plastic packaging in danger of being replaced by paper or fiber?  Are plastic packaging converters caught in a tough spot?

On this episode of Machinery Minutes, our weekly roundup of top stories with Editor Ron Shinn:  A good sign for U.S. manufacturing: Industrial robot orders were up in the third quarter. A bad sign for plastics and rubber manufacturing: Robot orders dropped.  There is a new player in the North American thermoforming processing machinery market, and its name is Asano Laboratories.  A small tool maker and injection molder in Florida brought those skills together to develop a new product — a dog grooming tool with steel teeth and an ABS handle. 

On today’s Machinery Minutes podcast with PMM editor Ron Shinn, we round up these three essential stories in five minutes:  John Erkert, CEO of PiovanGroup North America, has assumed the additional role of president of Conair Group.  Japanese injection molding machinery makers Nissei and Toyo are merging, citing lessening demand and rising costs, tightening global competition, environmental concerns and a shortage of skilled labor.  An interesting case study about implementing automation in a blow molding cell that manufactures large industrial drums.  

This episode of the PMM Insight podcast focuses on advanced recycling, which uses heat, chemicals or a combination of both to turn waste plastic into reusable monomers. PMM editor Ron Shinn and senior staff reporter Karen Hanna discuss the technologies. You'll learn:  Why is advanced recycling important to the circular economy? Who are some of the biggest players players in the industry? What is ahead for advanced recycling in North America, and what's holding it back?

This is what you will learn on today’s Machinery Minutes podcast with Ron Shinn, in which we round up three impactful stories from the past week:  Can companies continue to make packaging profitably while heading off regulations that could put plastics on the chopping block?  Russ LaBelle, the well-known founder of Wilmington Machinery, died at the age of 86. He developed specialized plastic machinery solutions that have since been adopted by companies around the world.  Good news for injection molding machinery builders in third-quarter sales totals. Not so much for extrusion machinery manufacturers. 

Here's what you'll learn on today’s Machinery Minutes podcast, in which PMM editor Ron Shinn rounds up three top stories from the past week:  Are you familiar with PWDS, SFDR or WDLS? If you are in the blow molding business, you know they are acronyms for equipment to optimize thin bottle walls. But you might be surprised where this equipment came from.  Tobias Baur is Arburg’s managing director of sales and after-sales, plus he is president of Euromap. Hear what he has to say about leadership, innovation and the future of plastics.  Recyclers may be the biggest losers in the collapse of talks on an international plastics treaty. 

On this episode of PMM Insight, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn about hot topics heard on the show floor at K 2025:  Competition – particularly from Asian machinery manufacturers – has caused Arburg to build a lower-cost molding machine.  Artificial intelligence is coming, but machinery manufacturers are very divided on when it will get here.  Aftermarket parts and service have become more important for machinery manufacturers’ bottom line. 

What you will learn on today’s episode of PMM's Machinery Minutes podcast, in which we round up three top stories from the past week in five minutes:  Injection molding equipment manufacturer Husky Technologies has been acquired by CompoSecure, a financial technology services firm. Husky will continue to operate under current management as a standalone company.  The Plastics Industry Association announced the theme for NPE2027. It is “Next is Now.”  The American Injection Molding Institute (AIM) has launched a plastics technology certificate training program that consists of 64 hours or instruction, available in person or online. 

What you’ll hear on this episode of PMM’s Machinery Minutes podcast, in which we round up three top stories from the past week in five minutes:  If 50 percent of plastics in the municipal solid waste stream were redirected from landfills to recycling facilities, the U.S. could add an estimated 173,200 jobs, $12.8 billion in annual payroll and $48.7 billion in annual economic output, according to a new study from the American Chemistry Council.  Advanced recycling methods using heat and chemicals, chemical depolymerization and thermal processes such as pyrolysis are explained.  Maguire Products has unveiled the fourth generation of its Ultra line of vacuum dryers. 

What you will hear on today’s PMM Machinery Minutes podcast:  A comprehensive story about the state of advanced recycling revealed some interesting developments.  Creating a stand-up pouch that can be recycled seemed like an impossible task when a team from Effytec, LD Pack USA, Dukane Corp. and Hoffer Plastics first looked at the problem.  Conair’s new PowerFill Pro is a compact, portable vacuum conveying system for processors who want the benefits of a central system without the infrastructure of long tubing runs or in-depth wiring and terminations. 

Today’s PMM Insight Commentary by Editor Ron Shinn looks ahead to NPE2027:  Despite industry headwinds, early booth reservations are on track.  Companies that traditionally buy big booths do not seem to be reducing their space.  A top NPE official said it is too early to tell if new visa restrictions and tariffs from the Trump administration will impact NPE exhibitors or attendees. There were more than 15,000 registrations from 133 foreign companies at the last NPE. 

What you'll learn on today’s Machinery Minutes podcast from Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing:  The recycling industry has been stuck in a perpetual cycle of volatility for years. Its future depends on overcoming technical, economic and legislative challenges, alongside investment in infrastructure and recovery efforts, according to an ICIS analysis. Hillenbrand, which owns Mold-Masters, DME, Tirad, Herbold Meckesheim and Coperion, has been acquired by Lone Star Funds in a $3.8 billion deal.  The U.S. plastics industry accounted for $154.3 billion in trade volume in 2024 but turned from a trade surplus in 2023 to a deficit in 2024, according to the annual Global Trends Report from PLASTICS. 

On today’s Machinery Minutes, PMM editor Ron Shinn reports on three innovations he's seen so far at the K Show in Germany:  Processors who have always thought they could not afford Arburg molding machines should take another look. The German machinery maker launched the Allrounder Trend, aimed at standard molding tasks and with a lower price.  Reifenhäuser introduced the Everex flat film extrusion line, which features high automation and a next-generation HMI for easier operation, even by inexperienced operators.  Engel unveiled the tie-bar-less Victory Electric 220 injection molding machine that is designed to save space and energy. The company said it is highly precise, enables short cycles and offers excellent process stability. 

What you'll learn on this PMM Insight podcast:  The K Show has opened and PMM Editor Ron Shinn lists 10 things he is excited to see.  Engel is unveiling Inject AI, the evolution of its Inject 4.0 technology. This is expected to be a peek at the things artificial intelligence will do for plastics processing. There are also exciting new machines from Arburg, Kautex, KraussMaffei and Haitian on the list.  Maguire is demonstrating the new Ultra line of vacuum dryers with Pitstop functionality that can make material changeovers in 15 minutes. There is more interesting new auxiliary equipment from Sepro and Dr. Boy to see.  

What you will learn on this episode of Machinery Minutes:  The Plastics Industry Association and the Society of Plastics Engineers are merging. SPE will become a division of PLASTICS.  PLASTICS and the National Association of Manufacturers are warning of potential harm to domestic manufacturers if additional tariffs are imposed on importers of industrial machinery and robots.  PMM’s seventh annual machinery buying survey is open. Survey results help us shape our coverage, telling us what’s happening in machinery markets, such as the effects of trade policy, labor shortages and other factors. 

What we're talking about in this episode of Machinery Minutes:  Cavalier Tool has become one of the world’s best mold builders by following a simple principle of people, process, equipment. “The right people doing the right things on the right equipment,” said Brian Bendig, President and CEO.  Arburg has a new vertical, servo-hydraulic press designed for manual and automated overmolding.  There are just 10 days remaining until the start of the K Show on Oct. 8. Learn how you can find out the 10 things Editor Ron Shinn is excited to see at the show. 

On this episode of PMM Insight, Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Reporter Karen Hanna discuss high-tonnage injection molding machines. You'll learn:  Some of the special infrastructure requirements for these presses, which can be the size of a basketball court.  Increased capacity required in materials handling systems for machines that can consume as much as 250 tons of resin a month.  The growing role of supersized all-electric molding machines.  Read the full story on these injection molding mammoths.

Key takeaways on today’s Machinery Minutes podcast with PMM Editor Ron Shinn:  The plastics industry still faces headwinds, but employment is outpacing the broad manufacturing sector and the plastics industry is showing resilience in difficult times, according to the Plastics Industry Association's annual Size and Impact Report.  Sumitomo (SHI) Demag plans to discontinue hydraulic injection molding machines in an effort to improve profitability.  Paul Lloyd, president of Farrell Piomini, fell in love with the company’s giant mixing and compounding machines the first time he saw them. 

On this week’s Machinery Minutes podcast:  Arburg is leaving the additive manufacturing market, 12 years after introducing the Freeformer series of 3D printers.  Dan Weissmann played key roles during the evolution of plastic beverage containers as well as the plastic closure for hot-fill packaging.  At the K Show next month, KraussMaffei is showing how to use its ColorForm technology to apply a thin polyurethane surface directly to thermoplastic components within an injection mold. The product is an automotive headlight with a PU protective cover.

What you'll learn on this PMM Insight podcast episode, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn:     After more than two years of negotiating, talks for a worldwide treaty to end plastic pollution collapsed.  There has been a great deal of innovation built on and because of the advances made in plastics. The industry needs to keep pushing the limits and capabilities of the material.  What next? Countries should develop their own national action plans and not wait on a treaty. 

On this episode of Machinery Minutes:  Expanded steel and aluminum duties may slow investment and complicate equipment imports, warns PLASTICS chief economist Perc Pineda.  If you share manufacturing data — with customers or suppliers — you share risk. Whether buying new machinery or making deals for raw materials or parts deliveries, processors should scrutinize their partners’ approach to cybersecurity in the same way they evaluate their own systems.  Progressive Components’ new Cooled UniLifter assemblies feature a design that accommodates water line placement. 

What you'll learn on this episode of Machinery Minutes:  Retaining a cybersecurity expert in advance can help with negotiating a ransom payment, recovering lost data and getting a business up and running after an attack.  Jason Sears, second-generation owner of Dri-Air Industries, learned the business from his Hall of Fame father, Charlie. He has pushed the company’s technology forward.   Manufacturers surveyed by Wipfli after the second quarter were glum. Profitability is flat and capacity utilization is down. Some better news is that quoting activity is up and employment levels are steady.  

On this episode of PMM Insight, Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Reporter Karen Hanna discuss cybersecurity:  Any given company has a 50-50 chance of being hacked, and manufacturing companies are among the most commonly targeted.    Small companies are as much at risk as bigger companies.  It is important to always segregate IT systems from operational technology systems. 

These are the stories you will hear on this Machinery Minutes podcast episode:  Peter Gardner, president of LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine USA, is retiring. During his tenure, the South Korean machinery manufacturer’s share of the North American market has risen from a negligible amount to an estimated 10 percent.  Artificial intelligence has brought manufacturing to the threshold of another revolution and offers remarkable advantages for blow molding, according to Eric Simmons, chair of the SPE Blow Molding Division.  U.S. companies have a 50-50 chance of being hacked in the next year and costs of an attack can be enormous. But there are steps to shore up defenses and companies that can help safeguard you. 

What you will learn in this episode of the Machinery Minutes podcast:  North American shipments of injection molding and extrusion equipment in the second quarter of 2025 were up 0.7 percent from both the previous quarter and the same quarter of last year.   Currier Plastics has always excelled at adapting to changing times. It will be honored with the Recognition of Excellence Award at the Annual Blow Molding Conference Sept. 8-10 in Pittsburgh.    Netstal has made numerous upgrades to its PET-Line injection molding system for preforms, which is designed for high output and efficiency. 

What you'll learn on this PMM Insight podcast episode, a commentary by Editor Ron Shinn:    The new tax and spending law reinstates 100 percent deduction of the cost of capital equipment purchases in the year the purchase is made and accelerates deductions for manufacturing buildings.  Research and experimental or development costs can now be deducted in the year the costs were incurred.  A tax expert said the new law creates compelling economics for domestic facility expansion and modernization. 

These are the stories covered in today’s Machinery Minutes podcast:  Plastics processors say they have plenty of unused capacity immediately available if manufacturing picks up.  Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. has acquired Addex, Inc., a supplier of blown film extrusion equipment.   Kautex is relaunching its KEB series of extrusion blow molding machines, which debuted in 1968. 

Here are the stories covered in this week’s Machinery Minutes podcast:  Mold making in the U.S. is an up-and-down business. Mold shops are expanding services, consolidating operations and embracing automation and smart manufacturing.  Canadian based Nova Chemicals has opened a linear low-density polyethylene mechanical recycling plant in Connersville, Ind. The company hopes to prove the consistency and viability of mechanical film recycling.  Denso has upgraded its control system so it can operate two, four-axis SCARA robot arms from a single control unit. The company said the unit is well suited for assembly or when robot operations are needed in a cramped space.  

These are the stories covered in today’s Machinery Minutes podcast:  Yaskawa America plans to build a state-of-the-art robotic manufacturing facility at its Franklin, Wis., campus. This marks the first time Yaskawa’s high-volume industrial robots will be manufactured on U.S. soil.   R&B Plastics Machinery specializes in building blow molding machines and extruders that are more customized for the customers’ needs than many bigger machinery makers and willing to tackle. It has proved to be a successful niche for the Saline, Mich., manufacturer.  Static electricity can be a big problem in some manufacturing operations, so Exair has introduced a hand-held measurement device to pinpoint the highest-voltage areas in a facility. 

On this episode of PMM Insight, with Editor Ron Shinn and Senior Reporter Karen Hanna: Mold makers continue to face tough competition from foreign competitors and are seeing higher costs due to tariffs.   New technologies such as sophisticated design software, additive manufacturing and robots and other automation help mold makers stay competitive.  Artificial intelligence is the latest technology mold makers are learning to use. 

On this episode of Machinery Minutes:  Mold makers are taking on intricate projects requiring precision that was unattainable just a few years ago, and they are employing a variety of new manufacturing tools to get the job done.  LS Mtron employed retractable tie bars to help Stanford Manufacturing fit two large presses under a low roof.  M&J Recycling has added a system to capture and reuse energy during shaft reversals to its P250e pre-shredder. 

On this episode of Machinery Minutes:   Meet Geoff Foster of injection molding company Core Technology, whose non-profit provides free STEM camps for middle schoolers.  Additive manufacturing technology maker Stratasys has acquired “a collection of assets” from Nexa3D, which shut down in December.   Shini USA introduced three new film pelletizers designed for precise cutting and uniform pellet size.